The first Old Fashioned Phil Olson had was also the first Old Fashioned he ever made. This version still evokes a sense of nostalgia in this Longman and Eagle bar manager. So, when we asked him to make his version of the Immortal Old Fashioned, he decided to pay a tongue-in-cheek homage to that first Old Fashioned through the use of both cherry and orange bitters. Using Knob Creek® Rye Whiskey for its perfect harmony of spice and sweetness, Olson stresses the need for delicacy and balance in the drink. Watch the technique Phil Olson uses to achieve this balance in the video above, and be sure to check out other Chicago spots offering balanced versions of this Immortal drink.
The folks at Untitled go incredibly simple with their Old Fashioned, opting for balance rather than flash: Knob Creek® Single Barrel Bourbon, simple syrup, Angostura and orange bitters. At Stephanie Izard's Girl and the Goat, they make their version by mixing Demerara syrup and bitters with a special house-infused version of Knob Creek® Rye Whiskey: "Bitter Penguin and Drunk Goat" Rye Blend. Brett Keen at Deliliah's uses Knob Creek® Rye Whiskey as a base. For his accents, he uses lemon and a luxardo cherry, saying "lemon accents the spice of rye better than orange peels, and the presence of the cherry is a nod to the dark fruit notes of Pennsylvania rye of the 1950s and 60s."
While each of these mixologists have their own way of achieving balance in their Old Fashioned, the key is starting with a big, full base spirit: Knob Creek® Bourbon.
Knob Creek® is a registered trademark of Jim Beam Brands Co. and is used with permission. Knob Creek® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey with natural flavors and Straight Rye Whiskey, 45-60% Alc./Vol. ©2014 Knob Creek Distillery, Clermont, KY. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
